5-Days tour Holy Week in Guatemala: Cultural and Adventure experience

Itinerary

Day 1: Tuesday, April 16 - Arrival in Guatemala

Stop At: Ciudad de Guatemala
When you arrive in Guatemala City, we will transfer you from La Aurora International Airport to your hotel in a shared transfer.
Take into consideration that your transfer from the Airport to your hotel its shared and there is a waiting time. The waiting time can be up to 90 minutes.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Lodging at Guatemala City (Double Room)

Day 2: Day 2 - Wednesday, April 17 - Chichicastenango Market & Atitlán Lake Excursion

Stop At: Mercado de Chichicastenango, Chichicastenango, El Quiche Department
You will be picked up at your hotel in Guatemala City and transferred to Chichicastenango, to start a day full of culture, a colorful environment and people proud of their Mayan identity.
Most of the markets around the world are indoor markets, within the facilities of a room or building. But that is not the case in the Guatemalan highlands.
We will explore some of the streets of the central square where the vendors with their varied merchandise have been installed and created their local outdoor market, while you observe the daily life of the Mayan indigenous people from Chichicastenango.
At Chichicastenango, the inhabitants descend only every Thursday and Sunday to the central square to sell all types of merchandise, from the most common fruits, vegetable and food, to the impressive merchants who offer their handicrafts made of clay, gemstones, wire and more, and handmade textiles with their meaningful designs and styles.

Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Santo Tomas Church, Chichicastenango, El Quiche Department
That’s not all in Chichicastenango. Here we can also learn about the syncretism of two totally different religions, Mayan from Guatemala and Catholic from Spain. Santo Tomás Church was built around 1540, on the basis of the pre-hispanic archeological mayan temple. The church is a splendid example of colonial architecture mixed with Mayan and Latin influence.
After exploring the area, you can enjoy a delicious lunch (not included).

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Lake Atitlan, Lake Atitlan, Solola Department, Western Highlands
At the end of our walk in Chichicastenango, we continue with a transfer to one of the most Beautiful Lakes in the world, Lake Atitlán. In the town of Panajachel, we have the opportunity to enjoy the view of the Lake Atitlán and relax walking through the viewpoint and the Santander Street. You’ll explore and see many handicrafts, textiles, clothes among others.
At the end of our tour day, we return to Guatemala City.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Lodging at Guatemala City (Double Room)

Day 3: Day 3 - Thursday, April 18 - Tour Pacaya Volcano & Hot Springs

Stop At: Volcán Pacaya
In this tour we are going to learn about culture and history, but in addition we are going to enjoy the Hiking Adventure in an active volcano.
You’ll be picked up at your hotel in Guatemala City and transfer to Pacaya National Park.
Once we arrive to the park and meet our local guide, who is an expert in the area, will fill our mind of knowledge about this adventure. We start hiking and begin with this adventure walking with a moderate difficult that may take 60 to 90 minutes approximately, to ascend the volcano getting into trail.
In our way, we can appreciate a beautiful panoramic view of the landscape surrounding the volcano, and also the local vegetation and see some species of wildlife, which you can get know a little more with our local guide.
Ending our ascension, we reach a rocky and arid area where we can see the volcano and lava flows. Here, we have the chance to cook some marshmallows. As if it were a fog between the campers! You have some time to capture this adventure with photographs. While descending, we find the Lava Store, which is dedicated to sell souvenirs such as earrings, necklaces, among other things, made by volcanic material

Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Santa Teresita Hotel & Spa Termal, Amatitlan, Guatemala Department
After our exhausting hiking adventure, we transfer you to the Hot Springs, where we can relax all your muscles and enjoy their benefits. At Hot Spring, you’ll take the lunch (included).
Kawilal is a world of relaxation, where the most important elements of nature are present in this unique place of thermal waters, in our environment are the mixed fire and heat of the Pacaya volcano that gives us the thermal waters and vapors.
To end our tour, we transfer you back to your hotel in Guatemala City.

Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch: Lunch at Hot Springs.
Accommodation included: Lodging at Guatemala City (Double Room)


Day 4: Day 4 - Friday, April 19 - Antigua Guatemala Holy Week Carpets tour

Pass By: Ciudad de Guatemala
You will be pick up early in the morning in your Guatemala City hotel

Stop At: La Antigua Guatemala
During our walking through Antigua we will visit the Central Park, located at the heart of the city, surrounded by important buildings with their colonial architecture, such as the Palace of the Generals Captain, the City Hall, and the San José Cathedral which has an elaborate baroque facade, typical of antique churches. We also find here the beautiful “Las Sirenas” fountain or Mermaids fountain.
We will appreciate too the Arch of Santa Catalina. This institution was established in 1609, and the nuns in this temple and convent were cloistered.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: La Antigua Guatemala
We will have time to recover energy and enjoy a delicious breakfast
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: La Antigua Guatemala
Continue our experience we will have the opportunity to be involved in the elaboration of one “alfombra” or carpet created from colored sawdust and flowers that can be appreciated just during the Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala. Also, we will be observing and admiring many more gorgeous dyed sawdust made carpets.
At some point of our walking, we will have the opportunity to appreciate for a while the processions begin, slowly moving the heavy, palm-decorated "Anda" (special float) of Christ along the streets in a sombre re-enactment of his crucifixion. An honor passed down from generation to generation, the men involved in the processions, known as "Cucuruchos", wear purple cloaks (symbolizing mourning) and hold burning incense as they walk. We will have time to take photographs of the moment.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Ciudad de Guatemala
At the end of our walking we will be transfer back to Guatemala City.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Lodging at Guatemala City (Double Room)


Day 5: Day 5 - Saturday April 20 - Departure from Guatemala

Pass By: Ciudad de Guatemala
You'll be transfer from your hotel in Guatemala City to La Aurora International Airport and take you flight to return to your country (if it is the case).

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.